Sterilizer.



W. G. HOLMES.

STERILIZER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE-ISI I915.

1,252,571. Patnted Jan. 8,1918.

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STERILIZER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE Isa 1915.

Patented J an. 8, 1918.

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WALTER G. HOLMES, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

STEBILIZER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented an. 8, 1918.

Application filed June 15, 1915. Serial No. 34,287.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER G. HOLMES, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sterilizers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to sterilizing apparatus of the kind in which boiling water is used for the sterilization of surgical instruments and vessels, and in which water is itself sterilized for surgical use.

It has been common to employ a sterilizer, for the purpose in question, in which an instrument-sterilizing tank or boiler, and a tank or boiler in which water may be heated and sterilized for outside use, are m unted upon or in a cabinet in which proi'gion is usually made, also, for a receptacle in which instruments and material may be stored, and for a table or top upon which articles-may be conveniently placed either before or after sterilizationf The present invention relates to devices of this general character, and one object of the invention is to so arrange the various parts of the apparatus as to secure compactness and minimize the floorspace occupied, and at the same time to produce a sterilizer which is convenient in operation and in which all parts, when not in use, are inclosed within a single cabinet of simple form and neat appearance.

Another object of the invention is to provide convenient means for supporting articles within a sterilizing boiler. and for transferring such articles to and from the boiler,

A third object of the invention is to provide a gage, to indicate the amount of water in a sterilizing boiler, which is combined in a novel and effective manner with therabinet in which the boiler is inclosed, and to rovide, furthermore, for the proper heating and sterilizing of that part of the water which is inclosed within the gage.

To the foregoing ends the invention resides in the various features of construction and arrangement of the sterilizer illustrated in the accompanying drawings and hereinafter described, as it is defined in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings a Figure 1 is a vertical section, looking from right to left, of a sterilizer embodying the, present invention;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on the line 22 in Fig. 1;

8 is a vertical section showing the parts in a different position from that of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a side-elevation of the gageglass mounting, as seen from within the cabi-' net; and

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 55 in Fig. 4.

from the upper partdby a horizontal parti tion 42, and it provides a convenient receptacle for instruments or materials, being-accessible at the front through a hinged door 12..

Above the partition 42 is located a boiler 13 in which instruments and vessels may be sterilized, this boiler being elongated in form so as to extend nearlv from side to side of the cabinet. The boiler 13 is heated by a gas-burner 14 of ordinary form. and is inclosed ,within a casing 31 to retain the products of combustion of the burner in contact with the boiler.

One important feature of the invention "resides in the means for afi'ording access to the boiler 13, and for introducing articles to and removing them from this boiler. Above. the boiler 13 the casing is provided, at the front, with an opening which is normallv closed by a door 15 mounted on hinges 16 at its lower edge. This door is held closed by buttons 17 at its upper edge. Associated with the door 15 is a sheet-metal cover 18 which normally closes the top of the boiler 13, as'shown in Fig. 1. This cover is cvlindrically curved, and it is fixed, at its ends, to brackets 19 connected with the door 15. \Vhen the door is opened it may swing downwardly into the position of Fig. 3, and

in doing so it raises the cover 18 from the boiler, the cover then swinging outwardly to a position in from of the cabinet. For the convenient manipulation of the door it 1s provided with a crank-handle 41 at one end.

The articles to be sterilized are placed in a basket comprisin sheet-metal end-members 20 and rods 21 w ich connect the end-members at their lower edges. Each end-member is provided with an upper portion 22 in the form of a handle, by which the basket may be conveniently manipulated. From each of the brackets 19 a support 23 extends upwardly and is provided with a pin 24, and each of the end-members 20 has a hookshaped portion 25 adapted to rest upon one of the pins 24 and thereby to support the basket pivotally. When articles are to be introduced into the boiler 13 they are placed in the basket and the basket is mounted above the cover 18, as just described and as shown in Fig. 3. The door 15 is then swung upwardly and closed, and in this manner the cover 18 is swun back to the position of Fig. 1. During this swinging movement the basket rocks upon the pivot-pins 24 and assumes finally the position shown in Fig. 1, in which it and its contents are-immersed in the water contained in the boiler 13.' W n the sterilization has been completed t parts are returned to the position of Fig. 3, and at this time the cover 18 serves as a. pan to catch any water which drips from the basket and its contents. A flange 26 at the inner edge of the cover 18 serves to retain the water'so collected in the cover until the cover has next been swung to the position of Fig. 1, whereupon the water is discharged back into the boiler 13.

In the arrangement just above described, it'is highly important to note that the socalled tray or basket, in the openin and closing positions of the boiler cover, is di rectly supported from the latter, free for pivotal movement, so that it will always be gravity-held, right side up. The brackets 19 pro ect from the cover approximately at a right angle thereto, or at any rate, they are so projected from the said cover that when the cover is in an upright position, the tray will be supported above the boiler and the dr-i-ppings therefrom will then be directed back into the boiler. As the cover'is turned further outward, or toward its extreme 0 en position, it moves under the tray and hen serves as a drip pan therefor. The connection between the cover and the tray is a .direct pivotal connection, no intervenin parts other than the brackets being require and these brackets are either integral with orotherwiseri idly secured to the cover so that they constitute a part th eof.

L1 addition to the boiler 13 he apparatus is provided with a boiler 27 in which water may be heated and sterilized for use outside ;.,the water therein and causes it to rise and which may be used to sterilize articles which cannot conveniently be placed in the basket. The boiler 27 is heated by a burner 29, which is supplied with a mixture of gas and air, in the usual manner, through a tube 39 connected with a mixing-valve 40 at the outside of the cabinet. Since the water is drawn oil from time to time, as required, from the boiler 27 a gage is desirable to notify the user when this boiler requires replenishing, and one feature of the invention resides in the novel and simple manner in which this gage is constructed and is combined with the cabinet in which the boiler is inclosed. For this pur ose one side-wall of the cabinet is rovlde with an elongated vertical openin ehind which an elon ated recessed meta member or body 33 is ii xed, this member being connected at top and bottom, res ec tively, with water-pipes 34 and 35 extent ing to the upper and lower parts of the boiler 27. The gage-glass 36 is in the form of a flat strip of plate-glass, which is clamped between the member 33 and the side of the easing, the parts being fixed together by screws 37, and waterproof gaskets of rubber, or other suitable material, being interposed between the gage-glass and the casing and the member 33, as shown in Fig. 5. Between the memb r 33 and the gage-glass the water rises 'to th same level as in the boiler, and is visi e through the opening in the wall of the abinet. For convenience the faucet 44, through which water 'is drawn from the boiler 27, is attached to the lower end of the member 33. V c The use of a gage of an kind with a boiler. in which water is sterilized has heretoforebeen considered objectionable, for the reason that the water which is contained in the gage and in the passages connecting it with the boiler tends to remain at a lower temperature than the water in the boiler, and is not subject to the thermal circulation in the boiler, so that it may fail to be properly heated and sterilized. A feature of the present invention resides in the provision of means for the express purpose of heating the water within the gage and the pipes connect-' ing it with the boiler, so as not only to sterilize the water in this part of the apparatus, but also to maintain a circulation through the gage by which all stagnation of the water therein is prevented. For this purpose I provide a branch-pipe 38 leading from the tube 39 through which the burner 29 is supplied, and this branch-pipe has an open end located just beneath the pipe 35 by which the lower end of the gage is connected with the boiler 27. When the burner 29 is lighted the mixture of gas and air which emer es through the pipe 38 is also lighted, and t e flame playing upon the pipe 35 heats of the apparatus, and with a third boiler 2% flow through the gage.

The boiler 28 is heated in the same manner as the boiler 27, and both of these boilers .are inclosed in casings 30 to retain the products of combustion. Outlets from the casings 30 and 31 are provided by a branched flue 32 which may be connected witha chimney in the usual manner.

The boilers 27 and 28 are provided with removable covers 15 through which they may be filled, and access to them is provided by openin the cover 11 at the top of the cabinet. he necessity of opening the cover 11 is, however, comparatively infrequent, while the most frequent use is made of the sterilizing boiler 13, and the provision of means for access to this boiler without the" necessity of opening the cover 11 is a valuable practical feature of the. apparatus since it permits the cover 11 to be conveniently used as a table while instruments are being placed in and removed from the boiler 13.

The inclosing of all of the boilers within a single cabinet not only reduces the floorspace occupied by the apparatus to a minimum, but also produces a neat and compact appearance.

My invention is not limited to the embodiment thereof hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, but it may be embodied in various other forms within the nature of the invention as it is defined in the following claims.

I claim 1. A device of the kind described, comprising a liquid container having a cover hinged thereto a; one side, said cover having a rigid bracket projecting from the inner face there of, a distance approximately one-half the width of said cover, and a gravity-arighted tray connected to the said bracket by a pivot that moves on the arc of a circle having its center at the axis of the lid hinge and arranged to .be carried thereby directly into and out of the liquid of the container by closing and opening movements of said cover.

2. A device of the kind described, comprisin a liquid container having a cover hinged thereto at one side, said cover having a rigid bracket projecting from the inner face thereof. a distance approximately onehalf the width of said cover, and a gravityarighted tray pivotally and detachably connected to the said bracket and arranged to be carried thereby directly into and out of the liquid of the container by closing and opening movements of said cover.

3. A device of the kind described, comprising a liquid container having a cover hinged thereto at one side, said cover having a rigid bracket projecting from the inner face thereof. a distance approximately Onehalf the width of said cover. and a gravity arighted tray pivoted to said bracket and 05 arranged to be carried thereby directly into and out of the liquid of the container by closing and opening movements of said cover, the said'cover having a chamber in its underside and being arranged to turn under said tray when in an extreme open position, and then serving as a drip pan.

4. A sterilizer comprising a hot water tank, ahing'ed cover for the tank having a chamber in its underside, and an instrument support and drain tray pivotally suspended from said cover and adapted to at least partially enter the chamber of said cover when the latter is in an open position.

5. The combination with an upright wall, of a hinged container adjacent to one side of said wall, saidwall having a passageway above said container, a door hinged to said wall for opening and closing the passageway thereof, a cover for said liquid container attached to said door and projecting therefrom approximately at a right angle, said cover, on its underside, having rigid brackets projecting centrally therefrom and. depending into said liquid container 'when said cover is closed, and a tray attached to said brackets by axially alined pivots that move'on the arc of a circlehaving its center at the axis of the lid hinge, gravitysupported therefrom and movable into and out of the liquid of said container. by closing and opening movements ofcsaid door and cover.

6. The combination with an upright wall, v

of a hinged container adjacent to one side of said wall, said wall having a passageway above said container. a door hinged to said wall for opening and closing the passageway thereof, a cover for said liquid container attached to said door and projecting therefrom approximatelv at a right angle, said cover, on its underside, having rigid brackets proj ecting centrally therefrom and I depending into said liquid container when said cover is closed, and a tray pivotally attached to said brackets. gravity-supported therefrom and movable into and out of the liquid of said container, by closing and opening movements of said door and cover, the said cover having a chamber in its underside into which said'tray, at least partially, enters when said door and cover are in opened position;

7. A sterilizer comprising a-hot water tank, a cover hinged thereto at one side, an instrument supporting and draining tray, and a direct connection between said tray and cover free from and independent of said tank, suspending said tray withinsaid tank and permitting said tray to maintain a horizontal position for any position ,of said cover under the action of gravity.

8. The combination with an upright wall, of a hinged container adjacent to one side of said wall. said wall having a passageway above said container, and a door hinged to said wall for opening and closing the pas erally projecting studs, and a tray prosageway thereof, a cover for said liquid convided at its ends with handles and with 19 tainer attached to said door and projecting open notches adjacent said handles, said therefrom approximately at a right angle, notches engaging said studs and affording 5 said cover, on its underside having rigid detachable pivotal connections between said brackets projecting centrally therefrom and tray and brackets. depending into said liquid container when said cover is closed, and brackets having lat- WALTER G. HOLMES. 

